I’m voting No on 1 for positive partnerships
By Rick Mystrom
Co-chair, Vote No on 1

Few issues affect Alaskans
more than the health of our
economy. During the 42 years
my family and I have lived
here, we’ve experienced both
good and bad economic times.
As a two-term Anchorage
mayor, as a businessman, as
a parent and now as a grandparent, I know and appreciate the benefits of a thriving
economy.
Mystrom
Since the beginning of
Alaska’s partnership with the oil industry we’ve had long periods of healthy economic times accompanied by prosperity
in both the private and public sectors of
our economy. Schools have been built
around the state, our university system
has grown dramatically, and health and
human services facilities have been built
debt-free, all largely funded by the oil
industry/State of Alaska partnership.
In Anchorage alone, we built the Sullivan Arena, the Loussac Library, the
Alaska Center for Performing Arts, the
Egan Center and the Dena’ina Convention Center—all without any debt. The
partnership has worked well for Alaska
and has given us an unmatched quality
of life. All of this was accomplished with
an oil tax rate that was more competitive
and far lower than the old tax system,
ACES.
In addition, that partnership has allowed us to accumulate over $76 billion
in liquid assets including $50 billion in
the Permanent Fund. The fund has paid
every Alaskan who has lived here since
its inception more than $35,000 in divi-

dends — that’s $175,000 for a family
of five. And that fund has nothing to do
with taxes. It’s funded with 25 percent
of Alaska’s fixed royalty. If
production increases, our
royalty share goes up. If production goes down, our royalty share into the Permanent
Fund goes down.
But we’ve also had shorter
periods of unhealthy economic times accompanied
by hardship for tens of thousands of Alaskans. In the
mid-80s when the price of
oil dropped from $30 to $9 a
barrel, the state, the oil industry and our
citizens all suffered. Thousands of our
neighbors lost their homes, businesses
went bankrupt, banks closed and left the
state and citizens left our state. Anchorage lost 13 percent of its population and
25 percent of its assessed value. The Interior, the Mat-Su Valley, the Kenai and
the rest of Alaska suffered equally. But
the State of Alaska/oil Industry partnership survived, and in the late 80’s we began a long period of sustained, gradual
growth.
The continuation of our economic
growth is now threatened. We’re facing
a $2 billion deficit. This deficit is the
direct result of lower oil prices and decreased production. The claim that this
deficit is a result of the new tax structure
is a myth. The deficit would be virtually
the same under either the old tax structure (ACES) or the new tax structure now
in place.
We can’t do anything about oil prices
but we can do something about production. We can discourage it or encourage it. ACES discouraged production.

We’ve watched our oil
partners’ investments
and oil service companies’
employees
move to Texas, California, North Dakota,
and other states who
welcome their investment dollars and our
employees.
The tax structure now in place, created by Senate Bill 21, encourages production. Our North Slope partners have
already committed to $4.5 billion in new
projects since Senate Bill 21 was passed
and signed by the governor.
Now comes another very important
decision point for Alaskans — a decision that will determine Alaska’s future
for years to come. In August we will vote
on a ballot issue that asks whether we
want to encourage our healthy partnership that provides 90 percent of our state
government’s funding or discourage it.
Do we want to keep the new tax passed
by the Legislature last year which has
already resulted in new investment and
new jobs, or do we want to return to

the failed tax of the previous
administration that contained some of the highest
taxes in the world and it
did nothing to encourage
production of a single,
new drop of oil on the
North Slope?
If we vote to repeal
our current
tax and return to the
old tax, not only will our oil partners’
investments go to other states and our
production continue its decline, but it
would also be likely to end plans for a
large-diameter natural gas pipeline and
LNG plant to get North Slope natural gas
to Alaska communities along a pipeline
route and to profitable markets in Asia.
In August, I’m voting to keep our
economy and our permanent fund
healthy. I’m voting against repealing our
tax structure. I’m voting “no” on Ballot
Measure 1.
Rick Mystrom is a former two-term mayor of Anchorage, a former member of the
Anchorage Assembly, and a successful
businessman.

Get out the vote, encourage workforce participation
By Brad Osborne
Chair, Alaska Chamber

The workplace can be a difficult forum for political discussion. There are
parts of the political process, however,
that find a comfortable home in the workplace. Getting out the vote is a perfect
example of work and the political process
combining for a recipe for success. Most
states provide a framework for employers to accommodate employee voters. In
Alaska, state statute §15.15.100 defines
how paid time off is made available for
employees to make it to the polls.
In all my years in business, I have
never heard an employer begrudge an
employee their opportunity to vote. Quite
the opposite, in fact.
If my experience is any indication,
employers express frustration that their
employees aren’t more interested and
involved in elections. To them, I say,
“Well… let’s change that. Let’s get them
interested. Let’s get them involved.”
Everyone can agree voting is important.
Why then are voter turnouts so low?

Let’s look at the reasons why voters
don’t vote. And let’s consider how those
of us in business can encourage our coworkers to engage.
We’ll consider three of the most common reasons why workers don’t vote.
“Oh, is that today?”
There’s no excuse for our co-workers
to miss out on their opportunity to participate in elections because they were
unaware. Modern workforces are more
connected than ever. We’ve progressed
far beyond the days of the poorly distributed and seldom-read newsletter.
Employers have access to increasingly powerful communication tools;
intranets, company email, video conferencing. We use them to focus attention
on important, organization-wide imperatives like safety. Those same tools can
be used to promote civic involvement.
None of us are going to tell our employees how to vote. However, as a community, people in business can do more to
keep our coworkers informed about when
and how to exercise their right to vote.

SOME IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE VOTING
• Consider not voting on the way to or from the office; let your employees see you leave for the polls.
Show them that, not only is it okay, it’s encouraged
• Take someone with you
• Arrange a carpool list for workers without regular access to a reliable vehicle
• Juggle schedules on polling day to make sure everyone has a chance to participate

“I’m not even sure what we’re
voting on.”
It can be frustrating when people that
we work with aren’t interested in the
same things that capture our attention.
This is especially true when the topic at
hand will have resounding implications
for our companies and our communities.
Luckily, we live in an age of information. We have access to bipartisan
tools like “ProsperityAlaska.org” and
business relevant tools like the “Alaska
Business Report” Card. Employers are
correct to approach the discussion of
specific candidates and ballot initiatives with caution. Still, we can work
together to disrupt voter apathy by providing access to timely, fair and non-

partisan informational resources.
“I just didn’t have time.”
Remember our friend Alaska Statute
§15.15.100? Every Alaskan worker has
time to participate in our electoral process,
and this is a place where we as employers
have an opportunity to lead by example.
This starts, of course, by voting ourselves.
Take some time and plan ahead for
the coming election season. Make sure
that you’re prepared for the issues that
matter to you and your business. And
make sure that your co-workers have
every opportunity to educate themselves
on those issues as well.
And most importantly … GET OUT
THERE AND VOTE!

As Alaska’s only Level II Trauma Center, the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC)
serves as the trauma referral center for all Anchorage hospitals and for every Alaska Tribal
health facility. The ANMC hospital’s trauma care and services took another leap forward for
its patients with the recent opening of its new hybrid operating room (OR). The technology
used in this hybrid OR is the first of its kind in Alaska.
The hybrid OR provides the infrastructure that allows interventionalists to use the latest
technologies and collaborate with their imaging and surgical colleagues to provide state-ofthe art treatments for trauma patients. Ultimately, having these advanced capabilities in the
hybrid OR will improve patient outcomes.
“The chances of survival for serious trauma patients is 20-25 percent better when receiving care at a verified trauma center,” said Dr. Frank Sacco, ANMC Chief of Surgery. “This is
a good addition for the Alaska Native Medical Center and a great benefit for all Alaskans.”
Trauma patients and others can now benefit from approaches that allow complicated care
to be delivered in one setting, eliminating the need for multiple staged procedures. In addition, patient recovery time is potentially shortened, length of stay and cost of care reduced,
and complications minimized.
“Not only does ANMC provide the highest level of trauma care in Alaska, but now we also
have the best hybrid OR in the state,” said Laura Mullin, ANMC Surgical Services Director.
“Our emergency room is directly below the hybrid OR, so a trauma patient could go from an
ambulance outside ANMC to the hybrid OR in about three minutes.”
A hybrid OR combines a conventional operating room and an interventional radiography
suite, which is used for performing vascular procedures. These procedures include inserting
a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin or wrist; threading the catheter using advanced
imaging; and treating vascular disease or trauma.
The suite’s cutting-edge equipment includes an interventional X-ray system that operates
using a much lower dose of radiation than other systems, without compromising image quality, which benefits patients receiving care and providers working in the room.
“Our new hybrid OR will advance the mission of ANMC by enabling us to provide advanced vascular interventional capabilities,” said Dr. Paul Franke, ANMC Chief Medical
Officer. “The hybrid OR will also provide additional operating room capacity, which is a
growing need at ANMC.”
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southcentral Foundation jointly own
and manage the Alaska Native Medical Center under the terms of Public Law 105-83. These
parent organizations have established a Joint Operating Board to ensure unified operation of
health service provided by the Medical Center.
Watch a news report about ANMC’s new hybrid OR at bit.ly/1cCB45L.

Photos/Brian Adams

TOP: Alaska Native Medical Center’s Surgical Services staff works in the hospital’s new
hybrid operating room. ANMC is Alaska’s only Level II Trauma Center and the new hybrid
OR strengthens those services for trauma patients from around Alaska.
ABOVE: A view of some of the state-of-the-art technology available for specialists who
work in the Alaska Native Medical Center hospital’s new hybrid operating room.

Copper Valley Development
Association, Inc.
A non-profit organization since
1990, Copper Valley Development Association, Inc. (CVDA) began as Alaska Regional Development Organization
(ARDOR). In 2002, CVDA became a
Resource Conservation and Development Council, authorized by the U.S.
Secretary of Agriculture. Governed
by a board of nine directors, CVDA
is primarily funded through the ARDOR program, with federal support to
the RC&D. Funds are also leveraged
through various donations and fundraising projects. For more information
call (907) 822-5001 or visit coppervalleu.org.
Davis Block & Concrete
Based out of Soldotna, Alaska, Davis Block & Concrete services the
Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, Mat-su
and the Fairbanks areas. Davis supplies redi-mix concrete for residential and commercial construction.
Davis manufactures Concrete Masonry Units for residential and commercial construction. Davis supplies
washed sand and gravel, as well as
a full range of masonry and concrete
tools and supplies. For more information call (907) 398-1507 or visit davisblock.com.

Hagen Insurance
Formed in 1991, Hagen Insurance was
started with the goal of bringing Employee
Benefit tools and ideas used by large national companies to Alaskan employers of
all sizes. One of the largest writer of individual health insurance policies for Premera in the State of Alaska, Hagen now provides benefits brokerage and consulting to
more than 400 hundred Alaska companies.
For more information call (907) 561-8040
or visit hageninsurance.com.
Kenai Peninsula College
A community campus system within
the University of Alaska Anchorage,
Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) has two
campuses, two extension sites and an
expanding virtual college. KPC is committed to excellence in education, training and life-long learning by offering
accessible opportunities in a supportive
environment. For more information call
(907) 224-2285 or visit kpc.alaska.edu.
Pinkterton
From private detective work, to corporate risk consulting, Pinkerton prides
itself on offering services to keep your
company safe. Investigations in Alaska
can be tricky business. Harsh weather,
traditional names and a diverse populace requires a ‘’local’’ touch. Pinkerton
understands and, while maintaining its

global reach, respects the Alaskan culture. Pinkerton’s Anchorage office offers
global resources, industry expertise, and
efficient risk management services that
provide scalable solutions for Alaskan
needs. For more information call (907)
332-1282 or visit pinkerton.com.
Steese Immediate Care
An urgent care clinic in Fairbanks,
Alaska, Steese Immediate Care is open
seven days a week, welcomes walk-in patients of all ages and offers extended hours
on most days. Steese provides medical
services including treatment for allergies,
asthma, broken bones and sprains, burns,
cold and flu symptoms, ear, sinus and
respiratory infections, insect and animal
bites, stomach viruses, skin rashes and
most other non-life threatening injuries.
For more information call (907) 374-7911
or visit steeseimmediatecare.com.
Valley Lumber and Building Supply
Located in Juneau, Alaska, Valley
Lumber and Building Supply offers lumber and other building materials. Believing in old-fashioned friendliness, value,
quality, service and integrity, Valley
Lumber will review your project and
recommend several contractors to make
your selection easier. For more information call (907) 789-7500 or visit valleylumberjuneau.com.

Following the tax
reform success of
the 2013 session, I
am happy to report
the Alaska Chamber
had another banner
year in the recently
completed
2014
Legislative Session.
Our success in improving
Alaska’s
business
climate Petro
this year fuels our
resolve to remain focused on
securing Alaska’s economic
future.
Chamber Wins
The Chamber’s advocacy
efforts kicked off in January with over 100 members
participating in our annual
Legislative Fly-In. Since that
record-setting
start,
your
Chamber team worked with
the Governor as well as House
and Senate members discussing pro-business legislation,
amendments to improve existing legislation, writing letters
and testifying numerous times
before various legislative committees.
We do this work so our
members can focus on employing Alaskans and driving our
economy. If you’ve followed
along with our weekly Capitol Notes updates to members,
you will know our hard work

on your behalf has paid off.
Over 70 percent of legislation supported by the Chamber passed — clear evidence
of a sound return on
your
membership
investment!
Workers’ Comp
Changes
Systemic, comprehensive
workers’ compensation
reform is a top
policy priority of
the Chamber. We
support
systemic
changes to the Alaska workers’ compensation insurance
statutes to reduce the cost of
insurance for employers while
emphasizing effective treatment programs that promote
injury recovery and the return
to full employment for injured
workers.
This year, two changes were
made to Alaska’s workers’
compensation statutes. Both
bills were sponsored by the
House Labor and Commerce
Committee and represent tentative movement toward the
systemic and comprehensive
workers’ compensation reform
Alaska so desperately needs.
House Bill 141 ensures that
workers’ compensation treatments in other states are not
billed at Alaska’s higher rates.
House Bill 316 changes the
way Alaska’s workers’ compensation medical fee schedule rates are set.

a Chamber Present
s
Alask

In addition to addressing
the medical fee schedule, the
Chamber believes comprehensive workers’ compensation reform should include evidence
based treatment guidelines,
return to work guidelines,
direction of care, utilization
review and an effective and
streamlined dispute resolution
system. First steps are important and the passage of these
two bills puts us on a path toward workers’ compensation
reform. We look forward to
addressing real reform in the
coming years.
A Couple No-Brainers
Streamlining
regulations
saves you time and money —
two things Alaska businesses
need. House Bill 32, sponsored
by Representative Mia Costello, allows you to purchase
of a single business license
for multiple lines of business.
House Bill 140, sponsored by
Lora Reinbold, requires new
administration code and regulation costs to be estimated as
they weave their way through
the adoption process.
Dreams of Gas
While education funding
and the capital budget drove
the legislature beyond its 90day calendar, it was work on
the Governor’s gas pipeline
bill that dominated the session.
Development of Alaska’s
natural gas has been a dream

for generations and Alaskans
are understandably weary
from so many unmet expectations. Will this time be different? Only time will tell.
A healthy skepticism and
robust process followed Senate Bill 138 as it wound its
way through the Legislature.
The Chamber supports the
principles found in the Heads
of Agreement and in SB 138,
believing that private sector,
free market principles are best
suited to making development
of Alaska’s natural gas possible. SB 138 allows the State
to participate as a business
partner and sets out a process
for Alaska’s board of directors
(the Legislature) to review and
approve along the way.
Opportunities Ahead
While we may be content,
we must never allow ourselves
to become complacent. As the
days of session came to a close
many good bills died. Legislation important to Alaskans and
Alaska businesses faltered,
seemingly without rhyme or
good reason. But like our member companies, the Chamber
is patient and the struggles of
this session become opportunities for the future.
Alaska consumers lost out
when Senate Bill 55 died. SB
55 would have allowed insurers to consider a consumer’s
credit information at renewal
without the specific request of
the consumer, bringing Alas-

« Registration closes Friday, May 30 «
Who

Alaskan High
School Students
(grade 9-12)

2014 Community

Outreach Trip
June 23 - 25
Nome, Alaska

Highlights
King Island Dance Group
Alaska Chamber Board Meeting

Nome Welcome Reception
Lan dbr idge Toll boo th Ban d

New Gold Mining Rush Presentation

ka’s statute into conformance
with the other 49 states and
improving the competitiveness of Alaska insurance policies. SB 55 died in the Senate
Rules Committee and would
have likely enjoyed strong bipartisan support.
Alaska commercial vehicle
rental businesses lost out when
Senate Bill 178 died. SB 178
would have updated and clarified
that the Vehicle Rental Passenger Tax does not apply to those in
the commercial vehicle long-term
rental business. SB 178 died in
the House Finance Committee after many hearings and unanimous
support in the Senate.
All Alaskans lost out when
House Bill 77 fell to the misinformed ire of anti-development groups. HB 77 would
have cleaned up some of the
regulatory processes in the Department of Natural Resources
and ensured that water rights
would always be held by the
public. HB 77 died in the Senate Resources Committee.
For now, these issues join
our roster of opportunities and
we look forward to reporting
them as legislative successes
in the future.
You can review all the
Chambers Wins and Opportunities Ahead on pages 4 and
5. And though session may be
adjourned, our work on your
behalf is not. Plans for Policy
Forum, where our next set of
wins will be defined, are well
underway.

When
Just a few weeks remain to register for Alaska
Business Week (ABW). A one-week summer
program, ABW offers Alaska high school students
real world business experience in their own backyard.
Participants live on a college campus where they
work as teams mentored by Alaska’s business
leaders. Students learn irreplaceable leadership
skills and receive two college credits upon
successful completion. Don’t delay — register today!

Capitol Gains
2013-2014
The Alaska Chamber won its advocacy effort over
70 percent of the time during the 28th Alaska
Legislative session. Representing hundreds of
businesses, manufacturers and local chambers
from across Alaska, Chamber members supported
legislation that updates and clarifies laws, provides
regulatory certainty, and generally improves Alaska’s
business climate. In total, the Chamber tracked
several hundred pieces of legislation during the
two-year session. Of the monitored legislation, the
Chamber supported or opposed 70 bills.
Included in this edition of Business to Business
is each of the bills the Chamber supported which
will become law (Chamber Wins!) as well as those
that did not. While the success of the Chamber’s
legislative agenda is truly remarkable, there are
a dozen or so bills that did not make it across the
finish line. We look forward to addressing these
pro-business issues next session.
Note that some of these bills are considered
“companion” bills meaning they are identical and
are listed in parenthesis. Bills the Chamber opposed
are not described here.
For a complete list see “Bills to Watch” under
“Advocacy” at alaskachamber.com.

■

Chamber Wins!
HB 4│In-State Gasline Development Corporation
Allows the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to advance an in state
pipeline to the construction stage.
HB 9│Secured Transactions and Funds Transfers
The reforms govern secured transactions and personal property ensuring
intersate secured transactions and fund transfers continue smoothly.
HB 15│Commercial Motor Vehicle Requirements
Re-defines an intra state commercial vehicle by raising the weight threshold
from 10,000 to 14,000 pounds.
HB 30│State Agency Performance Audits
Restores regular performance reviews of State of Alaska programs and
agencies that ended in 1983.
HB 32│Lines of Business on Business License
Allows purchase of a single business license for multiple lines of business.
HB 46│Waive CDL Skill Test for Certain Veterans
Directs the Alaska Department of Administration to adopt regulations mirroring
the new federal law that allows states to waive the road skills test for recent
veterans who gained driving experience in uniform.
HB 47│Injunction Security: Industrial Operation
Requests the court consider the wages and benefits of workers as well as
payments to contractors when an industrial operation is shut down by a suit
brought on by public interest litigants.
HB 56│Passenger Vehicle Rental Tax
Removes the 10 percent tax on motorcycle rentals in Alaska that was
unintentionally included in a 2003 bill on passenger vehicle rental taxes.
HB 57│Entity Transaction Act
Conforms to the Uniform Law Commissioners' Model Entity Transaction Act.
This legislation facilitates transactions between more than one form of entity,
improving the existing business climate in Alaska, and helping to reduce
unnecessary administrative and legal burdens currently imposed on companies.
HB 75│Contribution From PFD: Audits; University
Raises Pick.Click.Give audit level allowing more organizations to participate.
HB 76 (SB 26)│Unemployment; Electronic Filing of Labor Information
Brings the State into compliance with federal law and improves the ability for the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development to collect fraudulent claims
and allows electronic filing of information with the department. Also allows the
Commissioner to reduce the increase in Unemployment tax for employers and
employees in years the UI Trust Fund’s solvency is not at risk.
HB 80 (SB 29)│Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits
Allows Department of Environmental Conservation to issue wastewater
treatment system permits in a manner that is consistent with other industries.
HB 84│Military Training Credit/Temporary License
Requires Division of Professional Licensing, University of Alaska and vocational

Opportunities Ahead
HB 77 (SB 26)│Land Disposals/Exchanges: Water Rights
(Died in Senate Resources Committee)
Modernized, clarified and eliminated duplicative processes as they relate to
the Department of Natural Resources permitting.
HB 79 (SB28)│Susitna State Forest: Sale of Timber
(Died in Senate Finance Committee)
Created a Susitna State Forest which would allow timber harvesting, and other
compatible uses, as well as increased access to Alaskans.
HB 123│Dedicated Transportation Fund/Public Transportation
(Died in House Finance Committee)
Defined the Alaska Transportation Fund.
HB 354│Overtime Exemption for Student Practicums
(No Hearings Held)
Allowed all students, not just University of Alaska students, to participate in
unpaid internships (practicums) in Alaska.

HB 370│AWCB Controlled Substance Prescriptions
(Died in Senate Judiciary)
Discouraged the use of long-term opioids by restricting powerful narcotics to a
30 day supply for workers’ compensation claimants and requiring contact with
a provider who is prescribing pain medication.
HJR 10│Constitutional Amendment: Transportation Fund
(Died in Senate Finance Committee)
Allowed Alaskans an opportunity to vote to re-instate a dedicated fund for
transportation infrastructure.
HJR 16│National Ocean Policy
(Died in Senate Rules Committee)
Urged that Alaska be exempted from the far-reaching federal policy to manage
and zone activities in marine and coastal areas.

May 2014 • Business to Business – Alaska Chamber •

educational facilities to examine the credentials of related military experience and
credit the military experience toward educational and/or licensing requirements.
HB 140│Notice for Regulation Adoption
Requires costs to business and other state agencies be estimated during the
adoption process for State administrative code and regulations.
HB 141│Workers’ Compensation Medical Fees
Eliminates the potential for workers compensation claims that are treated in
another state to be billed at Alaska's higher rates.
HB 204│Salmon & Herring Product Dev’t Tax Credit
(Wrapped in SB 71)
Extended the ability of fishing industry to use development tax credits until
2020 and expands the credit for herring value-added processing.
HB 298│Confidentiality of Performance Reviews
Corrects a technical mistake in HB 30 ensuring both Legislative Audit and
departments are protected during the course of reviews enabled by HB 30.
HB 305│Junk Dealer & Metal Scrapper Licensing
Adds new record keeping requirements on the sale of scrap metal.
HB 316│Workers’ Compensation Medical Fees
Changes the way Alaska's workers' compensation medical fee schedule rates are set
from a usual and customary base to a relative value base system.
HJR 5│Oppose Genetically Engineered Salmon
Opposes the United States FDA’s preliminary finding in relation to genetically
engineered salmon, and urges further examination of genetically engineered
salmon prior to allowing them to be grown, harvested and sold in the United States.
HJR 6│BLM Legacy Oil Well Clean Up/Awareness
Urges the federal Bureau of Land Management to clean up legacy wells drilled
between 1944-1981 and to open new areas of the National Petroleum Reserve
– Alaska to oil and gas leasing.
SB 1 (HB 115)│Alaska Mining Day
Establishes May 10 of each year as Alaska Mining Day.
SB 2 (HB 114)│Interstate Mining Compact & Commission
Authorizes the State of Alaska to join and participate in the Interstate Mining
Compact Commission which serves as the spokesperson for mining state
in Washington D.C. and works to represent the member states to executive
branch agencies.
SB 7 (HB 68)│Corporate Income Tax
Updates Alaska's 30-year-old corporate tax code using the U.S. CPI inflation
rate distributing the tax liability more evenly. Eliminates taxes for businesses
with earnings of $25,000 or less.
SB 12│Public Procurement
Updates the State of Alaska’s procurement code and protects several Alaskan
procurement preferences that advantage Alaskan-based businesses over
outside companies when all other factors are equal.

SB 55│Insurer’s Use of Credit Scores
(Died in Senate Rules Committee)
Allowed insurers to consider a consumer’s credit information at renewal
without the specific request of the consumer bringing Alaska’s statute into
conformance with the other 49 states.
SB 60 (HB145)│Bounty On Sea Otters
(Died in Senate Judiciary Committee)
Incentivized the lawful harvest of sea otters by Alaska Natives to reach the
potential biological removal target.
SB 127 (HB 314)│Vehicle Transaction Agents
(Died in House Finance Committee)
Allowed Advanced Business Partnerships (ABPs) to retain some of the
administrative costs associated with provision of the Division of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) services they deliver ensuring the improved quality of service and
efficiency of the DMV will continue.

SB 21 (HB 72)│Oil & Gas Production Tax
Reforms the State of Alaska’s oil tax structure by eliminating the steep
progressivity of the ACES tax system.
SB 27 (HB 78)│Regulations of Dredge & Fill Activities
Allows the Administration, through the State of Alaska’s Departments of Natural
Resources and Environmental Conservation, to evaluate and seek primacy for
administering the 404 dredge and fill program.
SB 63│Contracts for Preparation of Ballots
Levels the procurement playing field so that all businesses may compete for a
state contract with the State of Alaska’s Division of Elections.
SB 65 (HB 102)│Retirement Plans; Roth IRAs, Probate
Updates the State of Alaska laws pertaining to estate planning, trusts, retirement
plan assets, and IRAs, and conforms Alaska law to Uniform Trust Code.
SB 71 (HB 192)│Payment of Fishery Resource Landing Tax
Streamlines fisheries landing tax regulations making paying taxes easier for
fisherman and less complicated for regulators.
SB 86 (HB 188)│Approve Flint Hills Royalty Oil Sale
Approves contract to Flint Hills Refinery for state royalty oil sales that ensures
there is a stable supply of crude oil for refined products within the state.
SB 129│Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Extends the termination date of the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
and aligns Alaska law with federal law ensuring Alaska’s appraisers will be able
to appraise properties with federally backed loans.
SCR 2│Acquire Tongass National Forest Land
Urges the governor to acquire land in the Tongass National Forest from the
United States government by purchase or negotiation or by seeking amendment
to the Alaska Statehood Act.
SJR 2│Limit Federal Intervention in State
Commends actions taken by the State of Alaska Administration to protect the
state from federal government incursion into the care and management of state
resources and promote economic prosperity. Urges Congress and the President
to limit federal government overreach into management of state resources.
SJR 3 (HJR 7)│Endorsing ANWR Leasing
Urges Congress to open a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil
and gas exploration and development.
SJR 8 (HJR 9)│Mining/Processing of Rare Earth Elements
Urges the State of Alaska agencies and Congress to expedite consideration of
permits required to increase exploration, extraction, processing and production
of rare earth elements.
SJR 15│Oppose International Designation of Land
Urges the federal government to stop pursuing the creation of the Beringia
International Park or any other international designation identified through the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. ■

SB 178 (HB 314)│Passenger Vehicle Rental Tax
(Died in House Finance Committee)
Updated and clarified that the Vehicle Rental Passenger Tax does not apply to
those in the commercial vehicle long-term rental business.
SCR 16│Request Governor to Investigate Coal Resources
Encouraged State of Alaska to explore options for development of coal resources.
SJR 16│Oppose Federal Aid to Certain Nonprofits
Urged the federal government to stop providing public, federal funds
to environmental nongovernmental organizations. ■

Page 5

Page 6 • May 2014 • Business to Business – Alaska Chamber

ABRC Policy Priorities
Strategic Leadership
Effectively promote a coherent set of policies designed to manage
state spending down to sustainable levels while stimulating new

private sector investment in Alaska’s basic industries. We look for

legislative action as well as leadership in explaining these strategic
policies to Alaskans.

Seeking Champions for Alaska's Economic Future

Fiscal Responsibility

Unrestricted general fund spending within the state’s operating
budget increased from $2.7 billion in fiscal year 2006 to

approximately $4 billion in fiscal year 2013. During those same

years, capital spending skyrocketed from $600 million to $3 billion.
The University of Alaska’s Institute for Social and Economic

Research (ISER) has done extensive analysis showing current
spending levels to be unsustainable. We support reductions in
general fund spending that move toward sustainable levels.

Oil Tax Reform

North Slope oil production is only one-forth the level of its peak

and has been falling at an average rate of six percent annually.

With recent changes in the oil and gas industry throughout North

At the beginning of the 28th Legislative Session, each
legislator and the Governor received a letter outlining the
policy priorities and the leadership attributes the Alaska
Business Report Card (ABRC) group would use to develop
its consensus report card. Collectively, the ABRC group
represents hundreds of firms and tens of thousands of
employees from every major industry in Alaska. ABRC
members include the Alaska Chamber, the Alaska Support
Industry Alliance, Prosperity Alaska, and the Resource
Development Council for Alaska, Inc.
The ABRC believes Alaska is in urgent need of strategic
leadership to address a fiscal cliff here in Alaska that is at
least as alarming as that faced by our federal government.
With oil production declining each year, oil prices under
downward pressure from surging supply in the Lower 48,
and state spending at levels that are unsustainable, Alaskans
face tough times ahead unless decisive action is taken.
The ABRC grades recognize policymakers who understand
and promote decisive action on Alaska’s twin economic
imperatives of managing state spending down and,
simultaneously, stimulating private sector investment in our
basic natural resource industries. The policy priorities used
to grade policymakers include strategic leadership, fiscal
responsibility, oil tax reform, efficient regulation, litigation
reform, in-state energy infrastructure, and general

America, Alaska is becoming less competitive with each passing

year. Oil tax reform (SB 21) has only been in effect since January
and has already stimulated private sector investment, increased

jobs and is expected to slow production decline. We support this

reform and oppose the referendum repealing SB 21 on the August
primary ballot.

Efficient Regulation

Alaska has one of the world’s most rigorous permitting systems.
It is imperative our permitting systems have high integrity and

efficiency – e.g., they deliver the environmental quality Alaskans
expect without undue costs or unnecessary delays. We support

regulatory improvements, which provide a predictable and timely
process for potential business developments.

Litigation Reform

Alaska’s resource industries are ongoing targets of anti-

development groups utilizing the court system to stop or delay
responsible development. State agencies are often forced to

spend inordinate amounts of staff and financial resources dealing
with third-party lawsuits at the expense of their core mission. We

support efforts to bring accountability to the appeals and litigation
processes for community and resource development projects.

In-State Energy Infrastructure

There is a need to provide for lower cost energy for Alaska homes

and businesses. We support market based solutions and a prudent
approach to state investment in such projects. In a free enterprise

system we believe energy projects should have private investment
capital in a strong majority position (at-risk), be managed and
operated by the private sector, and leverage other industry
opportunities to the extent feasible.

General Business Climate

Alaska’s business climate is consistently ranked near the bottom

relative to other U.S. states by several ranking organizations. This

business climate. ■

needs to change. We support enactment of meaningful workers

Learn more at alaskabusinessreportcard.com

development, access to land and resources, and other legislation

compensation reform, transportation and energy infrastructure
that makes it easier for businesses to thrive in Alaska. ■

For 50 years The Wilson Agency has brought
organizations experience success. Demons
peace of mind to Alaskans. Helping people
an ROI, and an improved workforce is
prepare for their future and protect themselves
that brings us unending joy.
from life’s misfortune is our great privilege.

907.277
Thank you

For 50 years the community has placed their
www.TheWilsonAgency.com
trust and belief in our services that has made us

peace of mind to Alaskans. Helping
prepare for their future and protect them
from life’s misfortune is our great privilege.

For 50 years The Wilson Agency has brought
For
50 years,
For 50 years,
Foryears
50 years, community has place
For
50
peace of mind to Alaskans. Helping
Forpeople
50 Agency
years The
Wilson
Agencythe
has helped
www.TheWilsonAgency.com
The
Wilson
Agency
has
The themselves
Wilson
has trust
the
prepare
for their
future
and protect
andcommunity
belief
in ourhas
services that has m
organizations
experience
success.
Demonstrating
helped
organizations
brought
peace
of
mind
to
placed
their
trust
and bene�it �irm
from life’s misfortune is our great privilege.
anP rROI,
is
as ethrill
oHelping
u dand
l y san
epeople
r vimproved
i ninto
g A Alaska’s
l abelief
sworkforce
k a in
b largest
uour
s i nservices
e semployee
s since 1964
experience success.
Alaskans.
thathelped
brings
unending joy.
For 50 years TheanWilson Agency
has
Demonstrating
prepare
for
theirusfuture
that has made us
organizations experience success. Demonstrating
ROI,
and an improved
and protect
themselves
into Alaska’s
largest
years the community
has placed
their
an ROI, and an improved workforceFor
is a 50
thrill
workforce
isunending
a thrill that
fromtrust
life’sand
misfortune
employee
benefit
firm
belief in is
our services
that has
made
us
that brings us
joy.
brings us unending joy.
our great
privilege.
today.
into Alaska’s
largest employee
bene�it �irm today.

A-

Senate Majority

Released May 2014

Build your success on a proven record with The Wilson Agency

A-

A-

*Not enough information to grade.

Build your success on a proven record with The Wilson
Agency
For 50 years
The Wilson Agency has b

B

House Majority

Senate Minority

Plan to Attend! Make History With Us Serving Alaskans for 50 years
Policy Forum
Make History With Us
Girdwood, Alaska
Serving Alaskans for 50 years

Build
your success
a proven record
with
The Wilson
Agency Agen
Build your
success
on on
a proven
record
with
The Wilson